RT-PCR DETECTION OF CHERRY GREEN RING MOTTLE VIRUS AND CHERRY NECROTIC RUSTY MOTTLE VIRUS IN CHERRY SAMPLES FROM SERBIA

Cherry green ring mottle virus (CGRMV) and cherry necrotic rusty mottle virus (CNRMV) were reported for the first time in Serbia almost two decades ago. The information on their prevalence is scarce, and no information on the genetic diversity of the present isolates exist. From 2018 to 2024, 179 samples of sweet and sour cherry trees were analyzed. RT-PCR analysis revealed very low incidence of CGRMV (4.5%) and CNRMV (1.1%) in analyzed samples. Sequence analysis of the coat protein gene confirmed that Serbian CNRMV isolates share 90.34–99.58% nucleotide (nt) identity with CNRMV sequences in GenBank. Our CGRMV isolates share 92.05–95.40% nt identity with CNRMV sequences from other countries.